Non-Pharmaceutical Approaches to Adolescent Mental Health

Since 2023, I have been leading a school-based club dedicated to exploring and promoting non-pharmaceutical methods for supporting adolescent mental health. The club meets twice a week to share knowledge, organize activities, and practice stress-reduction techniques such as meditation and traditional Chinese fitness exercises.

In November 2024, I helped organize a public forum in Shanghai that brought together experts, teachers, parents, and students to discuss effective strategies for improving adolescent mental health. The event provided a valuable platform for diverse voices to exchange perspectives and inspired greater community involvement.

From 2024 to 2025, our club partnered with our sister school in California, conducting both online and in-person exchanges across the Pacific. We introduced effective stress-relief methods already practiced in Shanghai, which were warmly received by our peers in California, earning widespread praise for their accessibility and impact.

In the summer of 2024, I led a group of members on a 14-day field research trip to the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina, USA. We visited preserved villages and museums, engaged in in-depth conversations with residents, and exchanged cultural perspectives with the local museum director. One highlight was being invited into the sacred council house, which houses the eternal flame, to demonstrate traditional Chinese fitness exercises. We also met high school students from an Oklahoma Indian Reservation, with whom we conducted cross-cultural research and formed lasting friendships.

This project has been a transformative blend of mental health advocacy, cultural exchange, and field research. I learned that effective mental health support goes beyond medical treatment—it requires cultural understanding, open dialogue, and shared experiences that empower individuals. Whether in Shanghai, California, or the Cherokee Nation, I have seen how mindfulness, movement, and cultural connection can bridge distances and inspire collective well-being.